The MDAQMD's Community Relations & Education section serves as the liaison between the District's services and the public, as well as the educational community.

Community Relations & Education Staff

Clean air is everybody's business.

That's why the MDAQMD's Community Relations & Education section serves to connect the District's services with the public, as well as the educational community. CRE staff coordinates a Speakers Bureau, which provides speakers on a wide range of air quality topics such as the District's services and programs, its rules and regulations, compliance assistance topics and environmental career information to audiences of all ages, knowledge and interest levels. CRE staff is also available to participate in community and business events which help spread the District's pollution prevention messages. To arrange for a speaker for your next event or to find out if we are available to participate in your event, call 760.245.1661, ext. 3001 or 3002.

Media Relations

CRE staff serves as the media liaisons for the District, preparing press releases on air district activities and issues and interacting with media representatives throughout the High Desert and beyond about these topics. Members of the media may contact CRE Supervisor Ryan Orr at 760.245.1661, ext. 3001 or CRE Specialist Martial Haprov at 760.245.1661, ext. 3002.

Health Advisories and Notifications

Whenever air pollution levels exceed health standards, CRE staff notifies High Desert schools and the media via website, fax and email advisories. These advisories provide health warnings for sensitive individuals and may be used by school districts in determining whether outdoor activities - such as sports - should be curtailed during episodes of heightened pollution levels.

Individuals may also receive automated air quality forecasts and health advisories delivered directly to their email inbox, cell phone or Twitter account by signing up for the MDAQMD's EnviroFlash Service. To sign up for this free service or to learn more, visit http://mdaqmd.enviroflash.org.

Publications

CRE staff develops publications on the District and on a variety of air quality topics. CRE staff also publishes, Air Mail, a quarterly publication which details the District's activities, as well as locally relevant air quality news from the Air Resources Board and the US Environmental Protection Agency. All publications are available free of charge upon request.

Exemplar Awards

Each summer the MDAQMD accepts nominations for the Exemplar Awards, the District's highest honor which is conferred upon businesses, organizations or individuals in the High Desert who have exceeded regulatory requirements and implemented exceptional programs or activities which have resulted in the prevention or reduction of air pollution. In September, the Awards are presented by the MDAQMD's Governing Board in association with National Pollution Prevention Week. Past winners include the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (shown in the photo at right), National Training Center at Fort Irwin, the City of Barstow, Mitsubishi Cement, Molded Fiber Glass of Adelanto, CEMEX, Advance Disposal & Verizon.

CDAWG

CRE staff coordinates the MDAQMD-sponsored annual California Desert Air Working Group Conference, which brings together regulated industry, air quality professionals and representatives of California desert air districts at a central location each fall. The annual conference provides a forum for attendees to discuss existing and emerging air quality issues of California Desert regions while spotlighting new cost-effective technologies and solutions for achieving compliance with air quality regulations. For more information on CDAWG call 760.245.1661, ext. 3001 or 3002.

MEEC

Providing the public with high quality environmental education materials is important to the District. The MDAQMD spawned the Mojave Environmental Education Consortium, a public-private nonprofit organization which links High Desert educators with quality, standards-based environmental education resources, free of charge. The MDAQMD serves as the lead agency for MEEC, whose services are made possible through the generous support of more than 40 local businesses and organizations. Visit http://www.meeconline.com to learn about MEEC's many services to area teachers and students, or to find out how your company can become a sponsor.